York Community Woodland has been created in partnership with City of York Council and White Rose Forest, with the aim of increasing access to green spaces and promoting health and wellbeing. The site opened to the public on 20 August 2024. Although still in its infancy at opening, this 78‑hectare site will, over time, develop into a lively and engaging place to visit, offering recreational activities, educational facilities and a network of routes for visitors to explore.
The woodland includes a signposted permissive horse route, featuring horse gates and linking Moor Lane bridleway with the Knapton underpass. This provides horse riders with a safe and enjoyable route through the woodland.
On 31 January 2026, York Community Woodland welcomed its own parkrun. Held every Saturday at 9am, the event encourages participants to complete a 5km route around the site, either by running or walking. The parkrun has quickly become a popular and well‑attended event, attracting visitors from York and beyond.
The vision for York Community Woodland
Alongside being a place for people to enjoy, the woodland will also play an important role in helping nature recover across the wider landscape. Carefully planned planting will create valuable habitats for wildlife, help store carbon, reduce soil erosion and alleviate flooding. You can discover more about how the vision for York Community Woodland came to life by watching the video below.